O/T UFC 67

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 06 Feb 2007, 10:32

Did anyone see UFC 67 on Bravo? There was some good performances on show. Cro Crop, Rampage Jackson, Anderson Silva were all good.
Ive only seen bits of MMA on the net and on Bravo before, but its entertaining stuff. I can see why its stealing some of boxings market

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 06 Feb 2007, 11:06

There is a huge MMA thread a few pages back if you are interested in that sort of thing mate.

I too enjoyed 67 - thought Cro Cop's opponent was a little too easy to be honest but overall it was a good show, with a great fight between up and coming little men Tyson Griffen and Frank Edgar (the lind of stellar match up rarely found on the undercard of boxing shows to be honest).

I look forward to seeing how the UFC sells at the MEN Arena at the end of April for UFC 70 - I am expecting a complete 18000 - 20000 sell out. That should make boxing promoters sit up and take notice. Hopefully it will force their hand into providing better value for money on domestic shows.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 06 Feb 2007, 14:52

Edgar v Griffin was the fight of the night. The transitions on the ground were outsanding Edgar in particular.

liamlion · Post by **liamlion** » 06 Feb 2007, 15:11

I was a bit disappointed with Rampage Jackson’s performance. I know the lad said he was very nervous, but I can’t see him repeating his victory over Chuck Liddell on that sort of form.

UFC 67 was a bit doomed from the start. GSP had to pull out from his fight with Matt Serra, and then Lugger fuked up big-time on the scales. Unbelievably Lugger said that he couldnt get motivated enough to sweat off those last couple of pounds.

But in general those UFC events are cracking!

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 06 Feb 2007, 16:35

nickd wrote:Edgar v Griffin was the fight of the night. The transitions on the ground were outsanding Edgar in particular.

Exactly. It was an awesome 3 rnd war in what in boxing terms was a 'prelim' fight.

Tyson Griffin, out of the David Terrell camp, has been receiving lots of press and is talked about as one of the 155lb stand out prospects. Despite this fact he wasnt served up a cup cake, but a fellow undefeated fighter.

Edgar and Griffin put on a great show and both will be back. MMA doesnt see a loss as the end of the road - boxing needs to get back to this philosophy. Years ago a loss in a hard fight for a prospect was seen as a positive - these days it has people talking about the boxer being 'shot' or 'exposed'.

In Japan, and somewhat less so in the States, its all about the quality of the fight and the spirit/skill showed. These are the things that mark out a fighter as popular and marketable, not solely a glitzy undefeated ledger.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 06 Feb 2007, 16:39

liamlion wrote:I was a bit disappointed with Rampage Jackson’s performance. I know the lad said he was very nervous, but I can’t see him repeating his victory over Chuck Liddell on that sort of form.

Rampage got battered twice by Silva (in great fights admittedly) and was badly beaten up by Shogun Rua in recent times (though the crazy SOB may well have entered that fight with damaged ribs..)

He is far from unbeatable but he comes to fight every time out, and has a great style featuring the best slams you will ever see.

Marvin Eastman is no slouch with excellent Mauy Thai and a stocky, solid build; that is a tough guy to fight (although an on song Belfort went thru him like a dose of salts)

Rampage will give plenty more value for money fights before he is done, although I think Chuck will have too much for him in their rematch.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 06 Feb 2007, 16:52

I watched Lidell v Rampage the other day and Chuck got dominated and ultimately beaten up. I hope he doesn't gain revenge purely out of Jackson having regressed.

Cro Cops opponent was way out of his depth but didn't expect much else. I'm not surprised the guy took flight around the octagon with those oak tree legs coming towards him.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:01

Apparently Liddell went into that match with a hip injury. It would explain how his normally excellent takedown defence was pretty ordinary.

I can't wait for the rematch.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:12

nickd wrote:Apparently Liddell went into that match with a hip injury. It would explain how his normally excellent takedown defence was pretty ordinary.

I can't wait for the rematch.

Liddell will also benefit from having the larger octagon in which to move and set up his punches off the backfoot. In addition, if he does get taken down by the cage, he can use the walls for leverage to get back to his feet.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:16

Blocking punches with his face wasn't helping either. But if he wasn't 100% then fair enough.

I'd like to see Rashad Evans fit in somewhere too, who I really rate.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:35

Rumour is that Liddell will face Jardine next.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 06 Feb 2007, 17:42

Ah yes Jardine K'd TFO the over hyped Griffin. Not exactly a mouth watering match with Lidell though.

Maybe Evans will get a chance to rip up the script gainst Rampage.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 06 Feb 2007, 18:15

Ortiz v Griffin is mooted for UFC 70 at MEN Arena.

Unless Rampage will go straight into a title shot now there isn't really a truly legit challenger to Liddell.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 06 Feb 2007, 19:09

If Liddell beats Rampage, I can see him retiring. Perfect time to go, having defeated all the men to beat him. Unless he can set up a fight with Wanerlei Silva.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 06 Feb 2007, 19:19

If Cro Cop beats Syvlia I expect Liddell will fight him at some stage.

Tony Lumb · Post by **Tony Lumb** » 07 Feb 2007, 08:20

nickd wrote:If Cro Cop beats Syvlia I expect Liddell will fight him at some stage.

I can't see Liddell retiring anytime in the next couple of years, a $5 million year will do that for you. I can definitely see Liddell moving up to heavyweight in the next 3 fights or so. After a rematch with Rampage, and unless they can get Wanderlei Silva, there isn't a lot at 205 for him. (and for the record, UFC is very strongly linked with a purchase of Pride in the next couple of weeks, which is being offered for around $10 million, which is a bargain if you can secure a new TV deal for them, which would create a slew of new opponents for Chuck).

I think Cro Cop knocks out Sylvia no later than the second round.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 07 Feb 2007, 08:41

TerribleTerry wrote:There is a huge MMA thread a few pages back if you are interested in that sort of thing mate.

I too enjoyed 67 - thought Cro Cop's opponent was a little too easy to be honest but overall it was a good show, with a great fight between up and coming little men Tyson Griffen and Frank Edgar (the lind of stellar match up rarely found on the undercard of boxing shows to be honest).

I look forward to seeing how the UFC sells at the MEN Arena at the end of April for UFC 70 - I am expecting a complete 18000 - 20000 sell out. That should make boxing promoters sit up and take notice. Hopefully it will force their hand into providing better value for money on domestic shows.

what worries me slightly, is that boxing promoters start jumping on the MMA bandwagon. Gary Shaw, formerly of main events has already gotten involved.

There's LOADS of money to be made for promoters right now from MMA. No individual names in the sport are calling the shots like a Mayweather or DLH, and this means that the promoters are making a bloody killing.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 07 Feb 2007, 19:37

Here is a very vague suggestion of some of the names on the MEN Arena UFC card.

Cro Cop against someone decent (maybe Kongo?) would be excellent, as would an Ortiz v Griffin rematch but the remainder of the card is fairly whiff..(subject to opponent announcements.)

UFC 70: APRIL 21, 2007 IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND AT M.E.N. ARENA

-Mirko Cro Cop (#2 Heavyweight in the World)* vs. TBA
-Tito Ortiz (#8 Light Heavyweight in the World)* vs. TBA (possibly Forrest Griffin)
-Forrest Griffin vs. TBA (possibly Tito Ortiz)
-Michael Bisping vs. TBA
-Dennis Siver vs. TBA
-David Lee vs. TBA
-Cheick Kongo vs. TBA
-Abdul Mohamed vs. TBA
-Jess Liaudin vs. TBA
-Elvis Sinosic vs. TBA

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 07 Feb 2007, 19:41

Arlovski has since been added. Arlovski v Cro Cop has been rumoured, not sure about that I think either Arlovski or CC will fight Kongo.

Bisping is rumoured to be fighting Sinosic.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 07 Feb 2007, 19:56

nickd wrote:Arlovski has since been added. Arlovski v Cro Cop has been rumoured, not sure about that I think either Arlovski or CC will fight Kongo.

Bisping is rumoured to be fighting Sinosic.

NO way will Arlovski be allowed to face Cro Cop on a UK card - that one is worthy of a Heavyweight title fight.

That Kongo looked scarey good, until someone took him down, where he was a complete novice on the mat.

Bisping v Sinosic is sensible and a decent enough fight I suppose.

With names like Cro cop, Arlovski, Bispng and Ortiz competing its an unmissable show in truth, almost regardless of the level of comp..

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 07 Feb 2007, 20:11

Should be a good show.

I think Arlovski or Cro Cop will face Kongo with the other facing Gabriel Gonzaga. I would have thought its more likely to be Cro Cop v Kongo as that would be a standup war and probably a highlight reel KO for Cro Cop.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 08 Feb 2007, 06:34

nickd wrote:If Cro Cop beats Syvlia I expect Liddell will fight him at some stage.

What if Cotoure gets to Sylvia first? How do you see a RC v CC match playing out?

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 08 Feb 2007, 06:48

I can't see how Couture could beat Cro Cop to be honest, CC's takedown defence is outstanding. And there's no way Couture could strike with him to set up takedowns the way he did in the first fight with Liddell.

I'm not sure Couture has much hope against Sylvia, he moved down to 205 as he was having trouble with big guys and Syvlia is bigger still. Not as skilled granted but I think he'll have enough to beat Couture. I certainly hope not I'd love if Couture won.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 08 Feb 2007, 06:50

Same here, be one hell of a comeback. And you can guarentee Liddell will move up to HW to challenge him sharpish!

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 08 Feb 2007, 08:08

Wow. Imagine Couture v Liddell IV at Heavyweight, if Liddell wins he fights Cro Cop. Now that really would be something!!